Saturday, 10 October 2009

A v Ukraine 10.10.2009

A v Ukraine 10.10 2009

Thursday 9 October 2009

So its was off to the Ukraine for the final away World Cup qualifier. We opted to got out on the official Thomson Sport trip, so early on Friday morning we headed to Gatwick with 2 mates and met another at the airport, so by 6am we had all checked in for AUE743 flight to Dnipro. The flight went via Manchester to pick up a few more travellers. The Ukraine was 2 hours ahead so by the time we had refulled in Manchester etc etc we landed in Dniprio at about 4pm local time.

We were soon at the hotel, so time for a quick wash and brush up, a quick photo out the hotel balcony and then it was on to the hotel bar for our first local beer.

After a few in the hotel bar we decided it was time to venture out. First port of call was the cashpoint and then on to find another bar! After about 15 minutes of walking we stumbled across the first drinking place, so we headed in and ordered a couple of beers and 2 vodkas.

Now the vodka came to about 90p, but it was for the bottle as demonstarted here by Liz!!

So after a few vodkas and some rather excellent beer (no idea what it was called so a picture had to be taken) we ventured on out and visited a couple more fine bars!

It was a cracking evening out and with everything so cheap and all the locals so friendly I have no idea what time we got back to the hotel! I recall playing Darts in the last bar and when I bought the barman a drink (vodka shot of course) he insisted that I down one with him each time!

In one of the bars we came across these strange signs, telling you what you can and cant do, its looks like you cannot run headfirst into the toilet door for some reason!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------....Saturday 10th OctoberPark............Saturday 10th October............Saturday 10th October....------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ So Saturday morning and after a very tasty breakfast of cold meats, yoghurt and eggs it was time to venture around Dniprio. To the left is a picture from the hotel balcony in daylight this time and a fine view of the large river than runs through the city and to the right the massive hotel! The sun was shining and the temperature nice and warm so a perfect day for some sightseeing!

So we headed out along the Embankement to see the seven wonders of Dniprio. Right outside the hotel(pictured to the left) was the The Swan Fountain, next we headed towards monestry island (pictured on the right). Some more pictures below show the river, monestry island including the actual church and a rather large statue of somebody! There were lots of christenings going on, plus on the actual embankments lots of wedding couples having pictures taken! Obviously the place to be seen in Dniprio

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------....Shevchenko Park............The Stone Idols............Lenin Square....------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Next up we ventured into Shevchenko park and the local palace called the Potiomkin Palace, then it was the Stone Idol (no not Stone Island) collection, with the oldest one going back to the mid 3rd Century. Then it was on to Lenin Square!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------....Shevchenko Park............The Stone Idols............Lenin Square....------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------We headed back to a riverside bar, once again Liz order a vodka and goal a small carafe full. We headed back to the first bar from the previous night and bumped into Bernie and the other Tottenham lads we know, we were soon joined by some other Rochdale mates. So it was time to head out to the stadium, Liz lines up with the local constabluary!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------..........The Match............The Match............The Match............------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------It was a shame we lost out 100% record, poor old Green started the game by being targeted by flares, then got himself sent off. They missed the penalty but won the game with a deflected goal, Ashley Cole the unlucky player. So after the match we were held in while they cleared the Ukranian fans out the stadium - we got plenty of entertainment - see video clip at the end of this report! We had the quick transfer back to the airport and before you knew it we were back at Manchester. One of the crew was taken ill and they had to de ice the plane and this held us up for about an hour and we finally got back to Gatwick at about 5am Sunday morning.

So Qatar next in just a few weeks, then the WC draw in December and then planning for the SA trip next summer can start properly!

The Ukranian Cheerleaders come back and entertain as for some of the 30 minutes we are held in the ground after the final whistle!